PRESS RELEASE
On behalf of the EXCO, Council and the entire members of Nigerian Library Association (NLA), we extend our deepest and most profound gratitude to Her Excellency, the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, CON, for using the occasion of her 65th birthday to raise funds for the completion of the long-awaited National Library of Nigeria Headquarters building in Abuja.
Your Excellency, we are deeply moved and inspired by your innovative approach to securing essential resources. Your decision to leverage the occasion of your birthday by requesting well-wishers and donors to contribute to the National Library Project Fund, instead of receiving personal gifts, reflects a selfless and visionary act of patriotism. As of the latest report, N20.7 billion has been raised, and you plan to keep the account open until December 2025. This philanthropic gesture is unprecedented and a testament to your love for education and your understanding of the vital role a modern, fully functional National Library plays in nation-building. It transformed a personal celebration into a national call to action, demonstrating exceptional leadership and a practical grasp of how to mobilise support for a public good. The funds raised through this noble initiative represent more than just financial contributions; but the collective goodwill and belief of the Nigerian people in the potential of a national library — a belief you, Your Excellency, have effectively energised.
Your Excellency, for decades, the issue of the unfinished National Library has been a source of profound disappointment, and your intervention has not only injected vital momentum into this crucial project. Still, it has also shone a powerful spotlight on the importance of knowledge, literacy, and national infrastructure for intellectual growth. This building, when completed, will be the epicentre of intellectual inquiry, a repository of our nation’s history and knowledge, and a crucial resource center for students, legislators, researchers, and every Nigerian citizen.
It is therefore instructive to state that your dedication has given us a renewed sense of hope and a firm belief that this essential project will finally be delivered to the Nigerian people. Your Excellency, your selfless act embodies the spirit of leadership and service to humanity. Your dedication to the nation's progress is truly inspiring, and we are honoured to have your support.
The Nigerian Library Association, as a major stakeholder, would like to express its deepest appreciation for your kindness and generosity. You have written your name in gold, and your uncommon contributions will be remembered for generations to come. and we look forward to continuing our collaboration to promote literacy, education, and intellectual growth in Nigeria. Also, we stand ready to collaborate with your office to ensure that the completed National Library building is swiftly equipped and operational, becoming the beacon of knowledge we all envision.
In the same vein, we call upon the Federal Government and the National Assembly to commit to providing the necessary and sustained annual operational funding. While the physical building's completion is a significant first step, we ask them to understand that generous, long-term funding is essential for the library to fulfil its mandate.
Thank you, Your Excellency, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, CON, for being a resolute champion for libraries, for literacy, and for the intellectual future of Nigeria.
Dr. Lawal Umar, FNLA
NLA President
3rd October, 2025